Professional Documents
Culture Documents
EURAMET cg-15
Version 2.0 (03/2011)
Previously EA-10/15
Calibration Guide
EURAMET cg-15
Version 2.0 (03/2011)
Purpose
This document has been produced to enhance the equivalence and mutual recognition of calibration
results obtained by laboratories performing calibrations of digital multimeters.
Authorship and Imprint
This document was developed by the EURAMET e.V., Technical Committee for Electricity and Magnetism.
EURAMET e.V.
Bundesallee 100
D-38116 Braunschweig
Germany
e-mail: secretariat@euramet.org
phone: +49 531 592 1960
Official language
The English language version of this document is the definitive version. The EURAMET Secretariat can give
permission to translate this text into other languages, subject to certain conditions available on
application. In case of any inconsistency between the terms of the translation and the terms of this
document, this document shall prevail.
Copyright
The copyright of this document (EURAMET cg-15, version 2.0 – English version) is held by © EURAMET
e.V. 2010. The text may not be copied for sale and may not be reproduced other than in full. Extracts may
be taken only with the permission of the EURAMET Secretariat.
ISBN 978-3-942992-12-1
Guidance Publications
This document gives guidance on measurement practices in the specified fields of measurements. By
applying the recommendations presented in this document laboratories can produce calibration results
that can be recognized and accepted throughout Europe. The approaches taken are not mandatory and
are for the guidance of calibration laboratories. The document has been produced as a means of
promoting a consistent approach to good measurement practice leading to and supporting laboratory
accreditation.
The guide may be used by third parties e.g. National Accreditation Bodies, peer reviewers witnesses to
measurements etc., as a reference only. Should the guide be adopted as part of a requirement of any
such party, this shall be for that application only and EURAMET secretariat should be informed of any such
adoption.
On request EURAMET may involve third parties in a stakeholder consultations when a review of the guide
is planned. Please register for this purpose at the EURAMET Secretariat.
No representation is made nor warranty given that this document or the information contained in it will be
suitable for any particular purpose. In no event shall EURAMET, the authors or anyone else involved in
the creation of the document be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of the use of the
information contained herein. The parties using the guide shall indemnify EURAMET accordingly.
Further information
For further information about this document, please contact your national contact person of the EURAMET
Technical Committee for Electricity and Magnetism (see www.euramet.org).
Calibration Guide
EURAMET cg-15
Version 2.0 (03/2011)
Contents
1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................ 1
2 TERMINOLOGY ............................................................................................................. 1
3 PROCEDURE ................................................................................................................. 2
3.1 General Considerations 2
3.2 Preliminary Tests 2
3.4 Definition of Measurement Points 3
4 MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY ...................................................................................... 4
5 CONTENTS OF CALIBRATION CERTIFICATE ................................................................... 5
6 LIST OF REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 7
TABLE 1 ................................................................................................................................. 8
TABLE 2 ................................................................................................................................. 9
APPENDIX A ......................................................................................................................... 10
Examples for the compilation of certificates for digital multimeters 10
Calibration Guide
EURAMET cg-15
Version 2.0 (03/2011)
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 The aim of this document is to provide guidelines on the Calibration of Digital Multimeters
(DMM) for accredited calibration Laboratories (ACL). In the absence of specific international
written standards on DMMs, this document supplements the manufacturer's
recommendations and the calibration procedures of the ACLs.
Even though these guidelines are not intended to cover the question of judging compliance
of a DMM to specification, they suggest a suitable calibration method on which a statement
of compliance can be based. For assessment and reporting of compliance, readers may
refer to ILAC Guideline G8.
1.2 The category of apparatus referred to is that of multifunctional measuring instruments with
digital reading for the measurement of the quantities: DC voltage, AC voltage (low
frequency), DC current, AC current (low frequency), resistance. This category does not
include instruments which, although they also measure one or more of these quantities,
are primarily intended for measuring quantities of a different type such as power, energy
and AC impedance or for measurements at frequencies higher than 1 MHz. The guidelines
given can also be applied to digital instruments that are able to measure only some of the
quantities mentioned above (e.g. digital voltmeters), but not for panel instruments or
instruments developed for specialised applications.
1.3 The information given in paragraphs 3 and 4 below may be ignored, in whole or in part, in
the event of the customer requesting, explicitly and in documented form, that the
instrument be calibrated according to other appropriate methods.
2 TERMINOLOGY
2.1 Calibration. Set of operations that establish, under specified conditions, the relationship
between values of quantities indicated by a measuring instrument or measuring system, or
values represented by a material measure or a reference material, and the corresponding
values realised by standards (VIM 6.11).
2.2 Adjustment (of a measuring instrument). Operation of bringing a measuring
instrument into a state of performance suitable for use (VIM 4.30). Depending on the
instrument, the adjustment can be performed by physical adjustment (of internal
components) or via the instrument’s firmware.
3 PROCEDURE
4 MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY
4.1 The measurement uncertainty should be evaluated for each measurement result according
to the EA-4/02 (previously EAL-R2) guideline. In particular in this document the example
S9, concerning the calibration of a hand-held digital multimeter at 100 V DC, should be
considered.
4.2 Subsequent to calibration and under normal conditions of use, the uncertainty associated
with the readings of a DMM will be the combination of the DMM’s specification and the
calibration uncertainty.
4.3 In the absence of a specific different request by the customer, for a meaningful calibration
of the DMM the uncertainties of the standards used in the adjustment and the
measurement uncertainties should be low enough as to be possibly neglected in
comparison with the manufacturer’s accuracy specification. Reference should be made to
the specification after one year, because this is in general referred to by the customer
during the period of validity of the calibration.
6 LIST OF REFERENCES
1) EA-4/01, Requirements Concerning Certificates Issued by Accredited Calibration
Laboratories (previously EAL-R1), Nov 1995.
2) EA-4/02, Expressions of the Uncertainty of Measurements in Calibration (previously EAL-
R2), Apr 1997.
3) EA-4/03, Requirements for the Accreditation of Laboratories and Organisations Performing
Site Calibration (previously EAL-R3), Jan 1996.
4) VIM, International Vocabulary of Basic and General Terms in Metrology, second edition,
1993.
5) ISO 10012-2, Quality Assurance for Measuring Equipment – Part 2, first edition, 1997.
6) ILAC G8:1996 Guidelines on Assessment and Reporting of Compliance with Specification
DC voltage
Instrument ranges Measurement points
No. Values
All 3 10%, 90%, -90%
[1]
One 5-7 10%, 30%(1), 50%, 70% , 90%
(intermediate) -10%, -90%
DC current
Instrument ranges Measurement points
No. Values
All 1 90%
One (intermediate) 2 90%, -90%
With value ≥1A 2 50%, 90%
Resistance
Instrument ranges Measurement points
No. Values
All 1 90%
[1]
One (intermediate) 1-2 10% , 90%
Lowest 2 0%, 90%
AC voltage
Instrument ranges Measurement points
No. Values and frequencies
[1] [1]
All 2-6 10% , 90% 50 Hz, 1 kHz, 20 kHz
Nom. value <0.5V 4 10%, 90% 50 Hz, 1 kHz
One 6 10%, 50% 50 Hz or 1 kHz
(intermediate) 90% 50 Hz and 1, 20, 100 kHz
Nominal value >200V 4 10%, 90% 50 Hz, 1 kHz
AC current
Instrument ranges Measurement points
No. Values and frequencies
All 2 90% 50 Hz, 1 kHz
[ ]
One 2-3 10% 1 1 kHz
(intermediate) 90% 50 Hz, 1 kHz
1
Values or frequencies to be done only on instruments with a resolution equal to 4 1/2 digits
DC voltage
Instrument ranges Measurement points
No. Values
All 3-4 10%, 50%[2], 90%, -90%
One (intermediate) 7 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 90%, -10%, -90%
With value >200V 4 10%, 50%, 90%, -90%
DC current
Instrument ranges Measurement points
No. Values
All 2-3 10%, 90%, -90%[ 2]
One (intermediate) 3 10%, 90%, -90%
With value ≥1A 3 10%, 50%, 90%
Resistance
Instrument ranges Measurement points
No. Values
All 2 10%, 90%
AC voltage
Instrument ranges Measurement points
No. Values and
frequencies
All 8 10% 50 Hz, 1 kHz, 20 kHz
90% 50 Hz and 1, 20, 50, 100 kHz
Nom. value < 0.5V 6 10% -90% 50 Hz, 1 kHz, 20 kHz
One 13 10% 50 Hz, 1 kHz, 20 kHz
(intermediate) 30%,50%,70% 1 kHz
90% 50 Hz and 1, 20, 50, 100, 300,
1000 kHz
Nominal 8 10% 50 Hz, 1 kHz, 20 kHz
value >200V 50% 1 kHz, 50 kHz
90% 50 Hz, 1 kHz, 30 kHz
AC current
Instrument ranges Measurement points
No. Values and frequencies
All 3-4 10% 1 kHz
90% 50 Hz, 1 kHz, 5 kHz[ 3]
2
Values to be done only on high-precision instruments (resolution equal to or higher than 7 ½ digits in Vcc
3
Frequency to be done only on instruments with a resolution equal to or higher than 6 ½ digits
METHOD
The calibration of the instrument was carried out at the points indicated by EURAMET Calibration
Guide EM/cg/15, following the manufacturer's instructions given in the user's manual. As agreed
with the customer, no adjustment of the multimeter was carried out. Before executing the
measurements given in this certificate a self-test ("Test") procedure was successfully performed
on the instrument.
The ambient temperature was in the range 22 °C to 24 °C and the relative humidity between
40 %rh and 60 %rh.
MEASUREMENT RESULTS
The calibration results are shown in the tables on the following pages.
CALIBRATION UNCERTAINTY
The uncertainty values reported in the tables of results have been obtained taking into account all
contributing factors to uncertainty affecting the measurement, including those deriving from the
resolution and from the short-term stability of the instrument being calibrated.
The reported expanded uncertainty of measurement is stated as the standard uncertainty of
measurement multiplied by a coverage factor k = 2, which corresponds to a coverage probability
of at least 95%. The standard uncertainty is a combination of a rectangular distributed
component with width equal to 1 digit of resolution, and normally distributed components. The
standard uncertainty of measurement has been determined in accordance with EA Publication
EA-4/02.
COMMENTS
The results reported in this certificate refer to the condition of the instrument on the date of
calibration and carry no implication regarding the long-term stability of the instrument.
+2.000 V 10 V +2.00 V 0 mV 6 mV
-2.000 V -2.00 V 0 mV 6 mV
+10.000 V +9.99 V -10 mV 7 mV
+15.000 V +14.98 V -20 mV 8 mV
-15.000 V -14.97 V 30 mV 8 mV
METHOD
The following operations were performed on the instrument in accordance with the customer's
request and EURAMET Calibration Guide EM/cg/15.
1. Stabilisation: in the 24 hours preceding calibration the instrument was powered by the
mains and placed in the laboratory environment.
2. Functional self-verification procedure (FULL TEST) - positive result.
3. Self-calibration procedure (AUTOCAL) - no faults in the operating procedure.
4. Initial calibration.
5. Adjustment – all operations indicated in par. 4.1 of the instruction manual were carried out.
6. Final calibration.
The measurement points of calibration include the points recommended by the instruction manual
and are in accordance with EURAMET Calibration Guide EM/cg/15.
Instrument settings during calibration are indicated alongside the tables of results.
DC voltage and resistance measurements were executed after short-circuiting the input and
setting the instrument reading to zero (for each range used); a similar procedure was carried out
for DC current, opening the current circuit.
During calibration the ambient temperature was between 22 °C and 24 °C and the relative
humidity was between 40% rh and 60% rh.
MEASUREMENT RESULTS
The calibration results are shown in the tables on the following pages.
CALIBRATION UNCERTAINTY
The uncertainty values reported in the tables of results have been obtained taking into account all
contributing factors to the uncertainty affecting the measurement, including those deriving from
the resolution and from the short-term stability of the instrument being calibrated.
The reported expanded uncertainty of measurement is stated as the standard uncertainty of
measurement multiplied by a coverage factor k = 2, corresponding to a coverage probability of
approximately 95% 4. The standard uncertainty of measurement has been determined in
accordance with EA Publication EA-4/02.
COMMENTS
The results reported in this certificate refer to the condition of the instrument on the date of
calibration and carry no implication regarding the long-term stability of the instrument.
4
Here a Gaussian probability distribution is assumed. Both the value of k and the coverage probability must be reported